This tactical strategy game will test how well a franchise born with miniature war game pieces in the 1980s will carry on in the modern digital gaming era. This Winnipeg, Canada-based Complex Games made the game in partnership with tabletop game maker Games Workshop, which owns the franchise, and Japanese mobile game publisher Crooz. Brands have been invading the mobile gaming world — which has grown to a $25 billion market according to market researcher Newzoo — during the past year, but the results have been mixed so far.

The Horus Heresy: Drop Assault is solidly focused on “midcore” audiences, or those that like hardcore games and play on mobile for short session times. This is the second Warhammer 40,000 release on mobile; Storm of Vengeance hit last year. Warhammer Quest, set in the franchise’s fantasy world, came out in 2013. But this is the first vide game to feature the Horus Heresy setting.

Complex Games has been making games for 12 years, and it has its Multiplex Engine, which its designers use to make real-time synchronous multiplayer strategy and action games for smartphones and tablets. Making synchronous games is not an easy task on mobile platforms.

In Drop Assault, players can choose a side in the intense civil war that erupted among the Emperor’s Space Marine Legions in the 30th Millennium. Players will be able to build and customize bases, muster armies, and break their enemies’ strongholds in intense tactical battles. Different factions will fight to dominate territories.

Players can also create unique chapters with their friends and challenge rivals with a unique multiplayer Skirmish gameplay mode.